Enforcement of food safety measures being stepped up in Kishtwar
Blazing Tales News Service
KISHTWAR, AUGUST 07: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma on Thursday directed strict enforcement of food safety regulations across the district, calling for mandatory registration of all Food Business Operators (FBOs) and intensified inspections to ensure the availability of safe and quality food for the public.
The directions were issued during a meeting of the District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Food Safety and Healthy Diets held at the New DC Office Complex.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and assessed the functioning and achievements of the Food Safety Department. The meeting also discussed food safety standards, hygiene practices and compliance by Food Business Operators in the district.
The Food Safety Department apprised the meeting about the measures being taken to ensure the supply of safe and healthy food and briefed the committee on the current status of food safety enforcement in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the department to ensure 100 per cent installation of glass frames in all mutton and chicken shops to improve hygiene standards. He also instructed officials to conduct regular special inspection drives to check the quality of milk, milk products, chicken, mutton, poultry and other food items.
Emphasising the need for universal compliance, he directed the department to ensure registration of all food business establishments operating in the district under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Deputy Commissioner also called for intensive awareness programmes to educate Food Business Operators, ICDS workers and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) workers about fortified food and mandatory registration under the Act. He directed the Chief Education Officer and Programme Officer, ICDS, to submit the lists of ICDS and MDM workers within five days.
Stressing strict enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, he instructed officers to initiate legal action against Food Business Operators found violating the law, particularly in cases involving milk and milk products, honey and ghee.
The Deputy Commissioner further directed the District Officer, Drugs and Food Control Department, to organise a Licence Registration Mela at Sub-Division Paddar to facilitate registration of food business establishments.
During the meeting, the Food Safety Department informed that four milk samples collected from different locations in Kishtwar district had failed quality tests. Taking serious note of the findings, the Deputy Commissioner directed the department to impose stringent penalties on violators dealing in substandard milk and milk products.
